
In Cinema 3000, Common Saints – known to his friends as Charlie Perry – crafts a sonic world that combines the expansive richness of psychedelia with a finely tuned, modern production. The London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer has spent a decade behind the scenes, subtly shaping the sounds of pop’s brightest, from BTS to Jorja Smith. But with Cinema 3000, Perry takes centre stage, offering a deeply personal meditation on dreams, family, and the relentless pace of contemporary life.
Written and recorded in Perry’s South London studio, this album feels both intimate and ambitious, oscillating between soul-searching melodies and euphoric beats that blend effortlessly into R&B and ‘70s-style grooves. Each track captures a snapshot of Perry’s reflections on existence, from the spirited nostalgia of ‘Sweet Surrender’ – a tribute to time spent with his father – to the mystic undertones of ‘Activate,’ where he explores the idea of life’s purpose in an otherworldly dreamscape.
Perry’s storytelling taps into the primal and the profound, as he steers around questions of identity, love, and collective consciousness. And while he may not fit the mould of a conventional artist, Cinema 3000 is an invitation to slow down, breathe in, and reawaken to the world’s inherent beauty. Here, Perry talks us through each track on his debut, giving us a window into the mind of an artist committed to exploring the depths of his craft – and sharing the magic he finds along the way.

Sweet Release was written in my studio in West Norwood and was the first song I wrote when I moved there back in 2022. The song is all about wanting instant gratification and how we are constantly looking for a sweet release in everything we do. Sometimes that can be a good thing sometimes that could be a bad thing the end of the day it’s easier to take the easy route then to take the hard route but the results you get when taking the hard route are much better.
Sandman started as the “secret” part at the end of Secret Song which was on Idol Eyes EP. it is essentially a continuation. The meaning of the song is that time heals wounds, and that emotions are cyclical and feed the ecosystem of your life. Dreams are so important to our lives.
Dream On is a song that I wrote around the same time as the Idol Eyes EP but it never made onto Idol Eyes or Starchild. It always had a soft spot in my heart and I wanted a female vocal on it so I got in touch with my friend Taloula who recorded it at my current studio. The song is all about dreaming and trying not to worry and seeing the world as a beautiful place that is full of opportunities. I always imagine this song is something I would play to my children one day as it asks the listener to be conscious about the marvels of life, and encourages one to pursue their dreams.
C’est La Vie is a song that came to me while I was listening to a lot of old 70s records including Rolling Stones. Is there a reminder just to keep on going when things are getting tough and regardless of how you feel the world keeps spinning around.
Celebrate came about when I heard this old piece of library music and I had to make something out of it. I actually recorded the vocals at like 4 am one day. The meaning of this song is about building stuff and celebrating your wins. It’s an ode to hip-hop records from the 90s. The drums were recorded back in my studio in Bromley.
Activate is a song about a dream that I had where I was in the underworld and I made a bet with an undead entity, where I bet my soul and ended up winning. They gave me my winnings and I paid Charon, the ferryman, to take me into the underworld so I could see what it was like he showed me, and told me that I was close to finding the meaning of life if I took my chances.

Stylistically this song kind of makes me feel like a mix between Wu-Tang and Bee Gees, which I thought was pretty dope. I intentionally left the sample that I created at the end of the record for anyone who wants to have a go. This song feels like a mix between Wu-Tang and the Bee Gees, which I thought was pretty dope. I intentionally left the sample that I created at the end of the record for anyone who wants to try it.
Dreams is from Starchild EP, so I think most of the fans are already familiar with this song. It’s all about looking internally and finding yourself. The lyrics plead for one’s love to be free. It’s a very self-reflective song that means a lot to me and has helped me gauge a better understanding of myself.
Blackbird is the first long track on the album and it was built around a piano riff that every time I played, a blackbird would come and start singing in the garden of my studio in Bromley some years ago. I wanted this song to be simple perfection and it is actually incredibly complicated but comes together as a very meditative and progressive track. The energy it gives you helps you to let go and open your eyes to positive things. The ending of this record is meant to symbolise enlightenment.
You Are Beautiful follows on from Blackbird to remind the listener that they are a divine being and part of the incredible tapestry of life and biology that we are all blessed with. In a social world that makes you feel ugly and constantly compares you to different things, it’s difficult to feel beautiful. This song implores you to accept that you are beautiful, regardless of what anyone else thinks. You rock. Go get it.
Idol Eyes is from the debut EP in 2020 and needs little introduction. The song is all about utopia and breaks down some of the fundamental drives of humanity, reminding us of togetherness and how we are essentially just floating through space on a rock.
Piece Of War is a very deep song to me about what it means to be a man. Moreover, a broken man, and the pressures that men do feel to stay strong amid all the pressure. There is some frustration that I felt while composing this but in turn it gives solace and conclusion. I recorded this when I had laryngitis which I fell adds to the concept of sometimes being broken.
Rebel Paradise is the longest record on the album and is a real journey. I think everyone will feel the Pink Floyd vibes here. This one took some years to create as I parked it for four years and then picked her back up for the album as I felt like it had an incredible energy to it. This is all about magic and the world and how we must try to solve things together as a united humankind. This is where Cinema 3000 exposes the power the media has over us and can change our minds in whatever direction it feels it wants. Essentially a call to remaining conscious and grounded when everything is breaking around is.
Utopia is the calm after the storm of rebel paradise. This is essentially a pallet cleanser after the intensity of the previous record. I composed Utopia a few years ago and the feeling it gives you is peace and freedom but not without struggle.
Sweet Surrender is a song about living and dying. I wrote this song about my father who often vicariously lives through me and connects with me through things that we both enjoy doing. I got the impression he wanted to relive the glory days of his life, and I will often go out gallivanting around with him in London. This beautiful time spent with him reminded me we don’t have forever and then it’s important to recognise and cherish those in our lives who are close to us. He is still with us and still going strong, and he is the best man I know; he has given me my joie de vivre!
Editors’ Picks
- ‘We’ve been friends for nearly 20 years, and sometimes you just have to laugh at the craziness of it all.’ | Local Natives interviewed
Local Natives’ Taylor Rice and Ryan Hahn discuss their new LP film and the themes of friendship, change, and nostalgia it captures. Ahead of their London show, they reflect on nearly two decades as a band, the surreal and candid moments on screen, and the bittersweet beauty of growing together. - Left of the Dial 2024: 10 vital new artists we saw at the showcase festival
There’s buckets of fun and unconventional frolics to be had at Left of the Dial, but the onus is firmly on showcasing new alternative artists you need to know, or will be kicking yourself that you didn’t know sooner. - ★★★★★ SABLE review | Bon Iver’s fear, regret, and the silence in between
On SABLE, Justin Vernon crafts an intimate portrait of vulnerability and redemption through Bon Iver’s signature minimalist style. - ★★★★☆ 3AM (La La La) review | Confidence Man keep the party alive
3AM (La La La) is Confidence Man’s invitation to a hypercharged rave world. Find out why the Aussie band is still the life of the party in our review. - ‘As long as we have that space to come together and talk, we can conquer anything.’ | Hippo Campus interviewed
Hippo Campus’s Nathan Stocker discusses the band’s journey through sobriety, group therapy, and reclaiming their sound with their latest album Flood. - ‘It’s funny that for the rest of our career, I’ll be singing my ex-boyfriend’s name.’ | The Beaches interviewed
After a decade in the music industry, The Beaches discuss the highs and lows of touring, the challenges of staying relevant, and why London holds a special place in their hearts.
Keep up to date with the best in UK music by following us on Instagram: @whynowworld and on Twitter/X: @whynowworld
- Album Breakdown
- Charlie Perry
- Cinema 3000
- Common Saints
- Interview Feature
- London Artists
- New music
- Psychedelic Music
- R&B
- Track-by-track